by Tamra Besch

Created on: June 17, 2009   Last Updated: April 18, 2011

Guadalupe River State Park

Planning on camping in Texas? There are some amazing state and federal parks in Texas and Guadalupe River State Park is one of them. Located in Spring Branch, Texas the GRSP has 4 miles of Guadalupe river front right in the middle of a 9 miles stretch of the river. This is a fantastic park for families, canoe and kayak adventurist, as well as people interested in some river "toobing".

Within the park, a large part of the river is located near a river rock beach. The "beach" area is a great place to put up your canopy and some chairs, drag out your igloo and relax as the crystal clear water passes by. The water in this area is very shallow and perfect for small children, as well as people who enjoy just sitting in the water and cooling off. Often you will see dogs and their owners splashing around. The flow of the river is not very fast in this area and there are no rapids near the beach. The "beach" area is located downhill from the parking area. Restrooms are in the parking area. There are many trees, picnic tables and grills also along the beach area as well. The weekends can be a little more crowded, but during the week there is plenty of space for everyone.

There are a few river outfitters in the area that will rent tubes, kayaks and canoes. Some will drop you off up the river so that you will arrive at the Guadalupe River State Park at the end of your river trip. Ask the park headquarters who they recommend in the area. Also at park headquarters, you can purchase ice, firewood and fire starters, as well as find maps and brochures of other parks and activities in the area.

This park is in a great location near such cities as New Braunfels, Canyon Lake, and Boerne. These towns, and several more in the area, have great little restaurants and shops in the event you need a change of scenery or have weather issues.

There are not many poor campsites in the GRSP. Most sites in both the RV and Tent areas are surrounded by lots of trees and foliage so that you feel secluded from your neighbors. Campsites 75 and 80 are two good sites. Campsite 49 would be considered a poor campsite with little foliage and open exposure to a small parking area. You can book reservations in advance online or by phone, however your exact site cannot be chosen until your arrival.

There is a two-hour guided interpretive tour of the adjacent Honey Creek State Natural Area. This is located in GRSP. The tour includes history, geology, flora, and fauna is given Saturday at 9:00 a.m. You would need to call the park or stop by park headquarters to confirm.

As with most of Texas State Parks, GRSP is clean and very well maintained. Located in the gorgeous Texas Hill Country, the scenery in the park is lush and green with the occasional cactus. Check the website for calendar events, activities and wildlife. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/g uadalupe_river/

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